well, yes it would make sense that it would, but for some reason its not...
we are dominating apple by the fact that android is growing so fast. the apps dont look/perform super pretty on every phone, but they still continue to grow

Just as a funny analogy. This is like making everyone in the world eat tomatoes... and somebody said screw it im tired of tomatoes so im going to give people apples and oranges and bannanas (they just randly flew out of no where) . The fact that apples and oranges and bannanas are being handed out make it harder to plant becuase you need 3 different seeds.... but does this mean that apples bannanas and oranges arn't going to rule the world instead of tomatoes? Its true that the planters would have an easier time planting 1 crop, but cmon, HOW ABOUT SOME VARIETY. And tomatoes are ruled by a dictator who says no one can grow tomatoes, and YOU HAVE TO EAT TOMATOES A CERTAIN WAY. (that part means jailbreaking peeps lol)

Just as a funny analogy. This is like making everyone in the world eat tomatoes... and somebody said screw it im tired of tomatoes so im going to give people apples and oranges and bannanas (they just randly flew out of no where) . The fact that apples and oranges and bannanas are being handed out make it harder to plant becuase you need 3 different seeds.... but does this mean that apples bannanas and oranges arn't going to rule the world instead of tomatoes? Its true that the planters would have an easier time planting 1 crop, but cmon, HOW ABOUT SOME VARIETY. And tomatoes are ruled by a dictator who says no one can grow tomatoes, and YOU HAVE TO EAT TOMATOES A CERTAIN WAY. (that part means jailbreaking peeps lol)

And the whining continues....The problem sounds a lot more procedural than structural to me.

You create an app, a new version of Android comes out so you need to update the app. The fragmentation wouldn't be a problem if someone figures out how to push the updates while leaving the older app out there for phones not yet receiving the update, i.e. if I'm on Android 1.6 I get XScope 1.6 from the market, but if I'm on Android 2.2 I get XScope 2.2.

The different screen sizes is just a fact of life. Consumers are going to want and they are going to have choices, and a developer needs to figure out the best way to either make their app adaptive or or put in a little extra work to deliver alternative apps for different screen sizes.

I understand if there are 10M users on the IOS platform and 20M users on multiple Android platforms that the ROI is probably higher for a developer to favor IOS. Still, the fact remains that Android will be a bigger pie.

I don't know enough about Android, but it sounds to me like this is something that shouldn't be too difficult for Google to solve. Basically, they need some sort of engine that will properly render graphics across multiple screen sizes (kind of like a PC, right?) and that takes away that complaint. Then you also need a licensing solution where if you buy XScope, you have Xscope regardless of the what screen size and version of Android you are running, but the "old" versions of XScope can still be downloaded.

The one stumbling block is the cell mfrs wanting to put their own spin on Android. I see that as a legit complaint that's difficult to solve. But, again, it's reality because the cell itself is quickly becoming a commodity and custom mfr interfaces are a way to differentiate yourself in the marketplace.

Of course, the PC doesn't quite work that way (although all the mfrs pre-load these days with a lot of their own garbage and upsell services). So stuff like motoblur isn't going anywhere any time soon, if at all.

This problem all goes away when the economics are there for guys to develop full-time. I would think we are there, but sure if you do this on the side you may have to make some choices regarding what platforms to support.

If this was really the issue/problem it's being made out to be, Google could just go out and hire a few dozen of the top developers to build 95% of the apps people need, and deliver it for free. I don't necessarily agree that apps are going to be the differentiator. Smartphones are in their infancy and the vast majority of users aren't looking for much more right now than music, pictures, video, browsing, email and messages. Stuff like a music tuning app seem like a "wow" factor but 99.99% of users have no need or use for it, nor is it likely to be a make-or-break decision to buy.

Fragmentation is a buzz topic people bring up when they feel like downplaying Android. Once the Droid hit and proved the viability of Android as a smartphone OS, there was a substantial shift in attitude from manufacturers and carriers regarding the willingness to update existing handsets to the newest Android OS. Most every phone from the Droid onward has been kept fairly up to date with the newest version of Android. Once the G1s and MT3Gs are phased out of the market by contract renewals and upgrades, fragmentation will be even less an "issue" than it is now.